Refrigerating apparatus



` Oct. ll, 1949. L.. A. PHILIPP 2,484,310

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 3, 194e 46 'n3 la' n vez/vc: H Hmm Hrromvry Patented Oct. 11,1949

" t nEFRiGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A'. Philipp, Detroit, Micln, assignor to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit,.Mlch., a

corporation of Maryland applichi@ Api-11 3, 194e, serial No. 659,254 r 1 claim. `(ci. sz-ssi of illustration only and not intended to definel the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claim.

In the drawings, `wherein simil-ar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout'the several views:

Fig. 1 is -a front elevation of a domestic refrigerator embodying this invention 4with the access door removed; v

of sheet material and securing them together*l with the insulation in place. It has, therefore, been `impossible to provide a relatively large lsized domestic refrigerator that could besold at prices within the economic range ormany thousands of purchasers.

`I have found that refrigeratorsycan be pro-4 duced more economically by forming an outer shell `or cabinet of sheet metal havinginwardly` directed vertically extending grooves to receive an inner liner in the form of `a plastic shell adapted to -be inserted and locked in place after insulation -is positioned in the outer shell.` Y

An object of this invention resides in ythe development of an improved method of fabricating domesticrefrigerators wherein an outer metallic shell is provided with spaced grooves to receive an innerl shell formed of plastic material spaced from the outer shell to `form an insulation space therebetween. 4

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a domestic refrigerator that' can .be fabricated economically of `an outer metallic shell having `spaced channels to reccivea plastic liner yto define a food storage compartment.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a domestic refrigerator capable of economical fabrication to provide an outer shell ca-pable of functioning Iasa refrigerant heat dissipating condenser element,` and -an innerl shell formed of non-conducting material to improve ithe heat in` sulating characteristic of the refrigerator". 4

Another object of theinvention residesin the development of an improved method of positioning a linerin a metallicrefrigerator cabinet and securingthe liner placeto providea space for insulation between the liner Iand cabinet and to define a food storagecompartment. Q Other `olcijects and advantagesof this .invention will be apparent from the following` detailed deserlption considered` 'in connection iwith the accompanying`drawings, submitted for purposes Fig. 2 is avertical view in cross-section taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with jthe access door shown in elevation;` and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that a domestic refrigerator is formed of an outer shell I0 having interconnected back, vside, top and bottom walls I 2, I4, I6 and I8, respectively. The `bottom w-all I8 includes an upwardly extending angular portion I9. The side, top and bottom walls I4, I6`and I8 are reversely contoured, as illustrated in Figs. 2

and 3, to `provide spaced oppositely directed channels 20 acting as guides to receive outwardly ex- I2, I4, I6, IB'and I9 of the outer shell I0 to pro-` vide an insulation space therebetween.` The walls of the liner 24 may be contoured -With reference tothe wallsof rthe cabinet where differential temperature is `involvedto provide greater insulationlspace surrounding sections of the cabinet where lower temperature is desired. For example, if Fa portion of the space within the liner2l forms an ice freezing compartment, the walls of the linermay be offset inwardly to provide `greater insulation surrounding the ice freezing compartment. y l

Asillustrated more clearly in Fig." 3, the side walls Il of the outer shell or cabinet have `in wardly directed flanges'36 exten-ding substantially at right angles thereto contoured, as illustrated at Sli, to providethe oppositely disposed vertically `extending channelsZIJto receive the vflanges 22iofthe` liner 24. The'contoured section defining the channels extends substantially par- ;allel -with the' yside walls I4` of thecabinet for a short distance, as illustrated at 40, toprovide deamaro sired width of the channel 28 to receive the outwardly extended flanges 22 of the side members 28 of the inner shell 24. The contoured portion 48 preferably contacts the outer walls I4 to Iprovide a more rigid and stronger structure. 'I'he sheet I4 is again contoured to provide e, substantially right angle surface extending generally parallel with the flange 88, as illustrated at 42, to overlie a portion of the outwardly extending flange 22 of the liner 24 to extend -beycnd the inwardly directed flange 36 of the outer shell or cabinet.

Suitable fastening means, such, for example, as screws ,or rivets 44, may be projected through the outwardly extended flanges 22 of the inner shell 24 to project through the flange 42 of the outer shell `or cabinet as illustrated to secure the inner and outer shells together.

The top panel I6 of the outer shell I8 is Icon-- toured in a similar manner, as illustrated at 46, to provide a channel to receive an upwardly directed flange 48 formed integrally with the top surface 30 of the inner shell 24. 'I'he lower wall I8 of the outer shell is also provided with a contoured portion, as illustrated at 50 to provide a similar channel to receive a downwardly extended flange 52 carried by the lower surface 82 of the inner shell 24.

The back wall 26 of the inner shell 24 is preferably contoured, as illustrated at 54, to provide an angularly inclined section extending ,across the rear of the cabinet parallel with angular wall section I9. The section I8 and side walls I4 cooperateto provide a mechanism compartment 56 to receive and partially overlie a motor compressor unit 58. A flue 59 is secured to the back wall I2 of the outer casing adjacent the mechanism compartment 56 to induce a flow of convection cooling air currents to dissipate heat from the motor compressor unit 58.

In the fabrication of this improved refrigerator the back, side and top walls I2, I4 and I6 of the outer shell I may be fabricated and secured together in any suitable manner, as by welding. The insulating material 34 may then be positioned in the outer shell across the top, down the sides and down the rear wall to the angular wall portion 54. The inner shell 24, formed of nonconducting material, may be slid into place with the outwardly extended anges 22 of the side walls 28 sliding in the channels 20 formed in the side walls I4 of the outer shell or cabinet I0. The inner shell 24 is moved to the fully telescoped position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the upwardly extended flange 48 of the upper wall 30 extending into the channel formed in the contoured portion 46 of the top wall I6 of the cabinet.

The fastening members 44 are projected through aligned apertures in the outwardly extended fianges 22 of the inner shell 24 and the portion 42 of the side walls contoured to underlie the outwardly extended flanges 22 of the side walls. Similar fasteners project through aligned apertures formed in corresponding members at the top of the refrigerator.

When the inner and outer shells have thus been assembled and secured in place, the insulation is placed between angular wall portions 54 and I8 and then the bottom wall I8 of the outer shell is applied, and the channel formed in the Acontoured portion 50 adjacent the front thereof is positioned over the downwardly extending flange 52 of the bottom wall 32 of the inner shell" 24. The bottom wall I8 including extension I9 is then secured to the back and side walls I2 and I4 of the outer shell in any suitable manner, as

4 by welding or screws (not shown). The fastening means 44 are then projected through aligned, apertures in the aligned flanges tosecurelylock the inner non-conducting shell to the outer metallic shell.

An ice freezing compartment 10 may be positioned in the space within the inner shell 24 and be secured thereto in. any suitable manner. A plurality of spaced shelves 12 may be provided to divide the space within the food storage compartment within the .inner shell 24 beneath the ice freezing compartment 18.

If desired, spaced drawers 14 having contoured back portions to align with the contoured portion I4 of the inner shell A24 may be provided for the reception of articles that cannot conveniently be positioned on the shelves 12.

An access door 16, having an outer metal wall 18 and preferably an inner wall 80 preferably formed of non-conducting material, is hinged to one side of the outer side walls I 4 to close the food storage compartment. Suitable insulation may be interposed between the door walls 18 and 80 to provide substantially equal insulation surrounding the entire food storage compartment.

A refrigerant condenser is preferably formed of interconnected tubes 82 bonded in heat exchange relation with the walls of the outer shell I0 to use the outer surface of the cabinet as a heat dissipating member. As illustrated, the tubes 82 are bonded to the back and top walls of the shell I0. It will be understood that if desired the refrigerant condenser and tubes may be bonded to all of the outer walls of the shell I0. The ice freezing compartment 10 is provided with a refrigerant evaporator 84, as illustrated diagrammatlcally in Fig. 4. The refrigeration cycle of this invention is as follows:

Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from spaced headers 86 of the evaporator 84, and is directed through a conduit 88 to the inlet side of the motor compressor unit 58. The gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the motor compressor unit 58 and is discharged to the refrigerant condenser 82 bonded in heat exchange relation to the outer shell of the cabinet. As heat is dissipated from the compressed gaseous refrigerant itis converted to the liquid form and passes through a strainer 90 and a small diameter metering tube 9|. The liquid refrigerant is then directed to the refrigerant evaporator 84 where it is again expanded and converted into the gaseous form absorbing heat from the surrounding atmosphere to provide the desired refrigerated effect.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appending claim.

I claim:

A refrigerator comprising an Aouter metallic shell having contoured edge portions forming channel shaped members extending around a vertically extended access'opening, an inner shell formed of plastic material having outwardly extended flanges positioned within the channel shaped members, the inner and outer shells being contoured angularly adjacent the bottom to provide a mechanism compartment, a motor compressor unit positioned within the motor compressor compartment, refrigerant condenser tubes bonded to the inner surfaces of` the outer shell, a

refrigerant evaporator positioned within the inner pressor unit and the refrigerant evaporator, `and Number connecting means between the motor compressor 1,987,422

unit and the refrigerant condenser tubes. 2,117,082

LAWRENCE. A. PHILIPP. 2,270,407

REFERENCES CITED 2,371,987

The following references are of record in the le of this patent. I 214161017 UNI'I'ED STATE PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,871,982 Geyer Aug. 16, 1932 Nugg Name Date Steenstrup Jan. 8, 1935 Derbyshire May 10, 1938 Blood Jan. 20, 1942 Steenstrup Apr. 21, 1942 Goulooze Mar. 20, 1945 Yoxsimer May 15, 1945 Philipp Dec. 25,' 1945 Nofzinger Feb. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 22, 1940 

